### J - S36018 - 18

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v. WILLIAM PAUL HENDERSON

Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 4073 EDA 2017 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence July 5, 2017 In the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County Criminal Division at

No(s): CP - 15 - CR - 0004433 - 2016 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., DUBOW, J., and KUNSELMAN, J. MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.: FILED OCTOBER 04, 2018 Appellant, William Paul He nderson, appeals from the July 5 , 2017 Judgment of Sentence entered in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas following his convictions after a bench trial of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Operating a Vehicle Not Equipped with Ignition Interlock, Accidents Involving Damage to Attend ed Vehicle or Property, and Careless Driving. 1 

### Appellant challenges only the weight of the evidence. After careful review, we affirm. We briefly summarize t he facts as gleaned from the Notes of Testimony as follows. On the afternoon of September 26, 2016, Jeanne Letterman was stopped on an incline behind a tan sedan - style automobile at an intersection in Oxford, Chester County. A 4 - wa y stop sign controlled the flow of traffic

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(a)(1); 75 Pa.C.S. § 3808(a)(1); 75 Pa.C.S. § 3743(a); and 75 Pa.C.S. § 3714(a), respectively.

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through the intersection. Rather than proceed through the intersection, the tan sedan rolled back into Letterman’s vehicle and then quickly “took off.” N.T., 4/27/17, at 8 , 10 . Letterman could not see t he drive r of the vehicle n or could she see how many passengers were riding in it . She likewise did not observe any other identifying information about the vehicle other than its color and body style. Letterman followed the tan sedan for approximately four blocks but was unable to catch up with it. Thereafter, she pulled her car over and reported the accident to police by calling 911. 2 

### Ultimately, an investigation led police to conclude that Appellant had been the driver of the tan sedan at the time that it hi t Letterman’s car at the intersection. 3 

### Police also concluded that Appellant had been intoxicated while operating the car. On April 27, 2017, the court held a non - jury trial at which the Commonwealth presented the testimony of Jeanne Letterman; Appellant’s son, Terence Henderson; and Oxford Police Officer Ryan Doherty. In addition to testifying on his own behalf, Appellant also presented the testimony of his cousins Robert Henderson and Clinton L. Henderson. Following the trial, the court convicted Appellant of the above - referenced offenses.

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 

### Letterman testified that it took her less than five minutes to travel four blocks, stop her car, and call 911. See N.T., 4/27/17, at 15. 3 

### Appellant’s son, Terence Henderson, testified as such at Appellant’s trial. See N.T. at 21.

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On July 5 , 2017, the court sentenced Appellant to 30 days’ to 6 months’ imprisonment for his Driving Under the In fluence of Alcohol conviction, and a consecutive 30 day sentence of incarceration for his conviction of Operating a Vehicle Not Equipped with Ignition Interlock. The court also sentenced Appellant to serve one year of probation for his Accidents Involving Damage to Attend ed Vehicle or Property conviction, consecutive to his terms of imprisonment. 4 

### On July 17, 2017, Appellant filed a Post - Sentence Motion in which he challenged the weight of the evidence supporting his convictions. See Post Sentence Moti on, 7/17/17, at ¶ 3. The trial court denied Appellant’s Motion on November 16, 2017 , finding that the “record is replete with conflicting testimony the credibility of which is to be determined by the trier of fact.” Trial Ct. Op., 11/16/17, at 2 . This t imely appeal followed. Appellant and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925. Appellant raises the following issue on appeal: Whether the trial court erred in finding the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence on all charges? Appellant’s Brief at 4. In support of this claim, Appellant assails the credibility determinations made by the trial court. Id. at 13 - 16. In particular, he contends that the

_________________ ____________________ _______ 4 

### Appellant’s Careless Driving conviction merged with his Accidents Involving Damage to Attend ed Vehicle or Property conviction for purposes of sentencing.

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court erred crediting the testimony of the Commonwealth’s witness es over that of his witne sses. Id. at 14 - 16. When considering challenges to the weight of the evidence, we apply the following precepts. “The weight of the evidence is exclusively for the finder of fact, who is free to believe all, none[,] or some of the evidence and to determi ne the credibility of the witnesses.” Commonwealth v. Talbert , 129 A.3d 536, 545 (Pa. Super. 2015) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Resolving contradictory testimony and questions of credibility are matters for the finder of fact. Commonwealth v. Hopkins , 747 A.2d 910, 917 (Pa. Super. 2000). It is well - settled that we cannot substitute our judgment for that of the trier of fact. Talbert , supra at 546. Moreover, appellate review of a weight claim is a review of the trial court’s exercise of discre tion in denying the weight challenge raised in the post - sentence motion; this court does not review the underlying question of whether the verdict is against the weight of the evidence. See id. at 545 - 46. “Because the trial judge has had the opportunity to hear and see the evidence presented, an appellate court will give the gravest consideration to the findings and reasons advanced by the trial judge when reviewing a trial court’s determination that the verdict is [or is not] against the weight of the ev idence.” Id. at 546. “One of the least assailable reasons for granting or denying a new trial is the lower court’s conviction that the verdict was or was not against the weight of the evidence and that a new trial should be granted in the interest of jus tice.” Id.

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Furthermore, “ [ i ] n order for a defendant to prevail on a challenge to the weight of the evidence, the evidence must be so tenuous, vague and uncertain that the verdict shocks the conscience of the court.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). As our Supreme Court has made clear, reversal is only appropriate “where the facts and inferences disclose a palpable abuse of discretion [.]” Commonwealth v. Morales , 91 A.3d 80, 91 (Pa. 2014) (citations omitted, emphasis in original). “[A] true weight of the evidence challenge concedes that sufficient evidence exists to sustain the verdict but questions which evidence is to be believed.” Commonwealth v. Thompson , 106 A.3d 742, 758 (Pa. Super. 2014). For that reason, the trial court need not view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict winner, and may instead use its discretion in concluding whether the verdict was against the weight of the evidence. Commonwealth v. Widmer , 744 A.2d 745, 7 51 n.3 (Pa. 2000). In her Rule 1925(a) Opinion , The Honorable Jacqueline C. Cody, comprehensively discussed the evidence presented at trial. She also adopted the trial court’s statement announcing the verdict following Appellant’s trial. See Trial Ct. Op ., filed 2/1 6 /18, at 3, citing N.T. 1/27/17, at 130 - 34. Our review indicates that t he trial court carefully evaluated the record and the evidence in reviewing Appellant’s weight claim. See Trial Ct. Op., filed 2/1 6 /18 , at 2 - 8 (crediting the testimony of Officer Doherty and Terence Henderson that Appellant had been driving the car at the time of the accident; crediting Officer Doherty’s testimony that he heard Appellant admit that he

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had been drinking and his description of Appellant as being verbally aggr essive and speaking loudly, unsteady on his feet, emitting an odor of alcohol, and using slurred speech ; and crediting the Commonwealth’s timeline of events over that of Appellant and his witnesses) . See also Trial Ct. Op., 11/16/17 , at 2 . Appellant essen tially asks us to reassess the credibility of the police officer and the victim, and reweigh the testimony and evidence presented at trial. We cannot and will not do so. Our review of the record shows that the evidence is not tenuous, vague, or uncertain , and the verdict was not so contrary to the evidence as to shock the court’s conscience. Accordingly, w e discern no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s denial of Appellant’s weight claim and we, thus, affirm Appellant’s Judgment of Sentence . The pa rties are instructed to attach a copy of the trial court’s February 14, 2018 Opinion to all future filings. Judgment of Sentence affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 10/4/18Circulated 08/28/2018 11:49 AM



### . . .I � J j iJ C O M M O N W E A L T H O F P ENN S Y L V A N I A V S . W I L LI A M P A U L H EN D E R S O N : IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S C H E S T E R C O UN T Y , P ENN S Y L V A N I A C RI M IN A L A C T I O N : N O . C P - 1 5 - C R - 0 0 0 4 4 3 3 - 2 0 1 6 :t. ; () l)



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# - - - N i c h o l a s J . C a s e n t a , Jr. , E s qu i r e , C h i e f D e p uty D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y , o n b e h a l f o fth e

C o mm o nw e a l th o f P e nn s y l v an i a S t e p h e n F . D e l an o , E s qu i r e , A s s i s t ant P ub l i c D e fe n d e r , o n b e h a l f o f D e fe n d ant

O P IN I O N D e f e n d an t a p p e a l s fr o m th e j u d g m e nt o f s e nt e n c e e nt e r e d i n th i s m att e r o n Ju l y 5 , 2 0 1 7 fo r a c c i d e nt s i nv o l v i n g d am a g e t o att e n d e d v e h i cl e o r p ro p e rty , dr i v i n g un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f a lc o h o l o r c o n tro ll e d s ub s t an c e , i ll e g a ll y o p e rat i n g a m o t o r v e h i cl e n o t e qu i p p e d w i th i g n i t i o n i nt e r l o c k an d c ar el e s s dr i v i n g , fo ll o w i n g a tr i a l b e fo r e th e un d e r s i g n e d , s i tt i n g wi th o ut a j ur y . W e wr i t e i n s u

p p o rt o f j u d g m e nt i n a c c o r d an c e w i th P a . R . A. P . 1 9 2 5 ( a ) .

P R O C E D U RA L H I S T O R Y D e fe n d ant w a s arr e s t e d an d c h ar g e d w i th a c c i d e nt s i nv o l v i n g d am a g e t o att e n d e d v e h i cl e o r p ro p e rty , dr i v i n g un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f a lc o h o l o r c o ntr o ll e d s u b s t an c e , i ll e g a ll y o p e rat i n g a m o t o r v e h i cl e n o t e qu i p p e d w i th i g ni t i o n i nt e rl o c k an d c ar e l e s s dr i v i n g

O n Ap r i l 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 , D e fe n d an t w a s fo un d g u i l ty o f a ll fo ur c o un t s c h ar g e d , fo ll o w i n g a tr i a l b e fo r e th e C o urt , s i tt i n g w i th o ut a j ur y . O n Ju l y 5 , 2 0 1 7 , D e fe n d an t w a s s e n t e n c e d t o 3 0 d ay s t o 6 m o nth s i mp r i s o nm e n t fo r dr i v i n g un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f a lc o h o l o r� ') , ) � ')

, • • , '.lo 

### c o n tr o ll e d s ub s t an c e an d a c o n s e c ut i v e fl at s e n t e n c e o f 3 0 d ay s i mp r i s o nm e n t fo r i ll e g a ll y

o p e rat i n g a m o t o r v e h i cl e n o t e qu i p p e d w i th i g n i t i o n i n t e r l o c k . D e f e n d ant w a s a l s o s e nt e n c e d t o 1 y e ar p ro b at i o n o n a c c i d e nt s i nv o l v i n g d am a g e t o att e n d e d v e h i cl e o r p ro p e rty , c o n s e c ut i v e t o i mp r i s o nm e nt. T h e c o un t o f c ar e l e s s dr i v i n g m e r g e d w i th a c c i d e nt s i nv o l v i n g d am a g e t o att e n d e d v e h i c l e o r p ro p e rty .

O n Ju l y 1 7 , 2 0 1 7 , D e fe n d ant fi l e d a P o s t S e n t e n c e M o t i o n , w h i c h w a s d e n i e d 

### b y O r d e r o fth e C o urt d at e d N o v e mb e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 . D e fe n d an t t i m e l y fi l e d th e i n s t an t a p p e a l o n D e c e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 . D I S C U S S I O N

I n h i s C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l , D e fe n d ant a s s e rt s th at th e v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e . A c h a ll e n g e t o th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e c o n t e s t s th e w e i g h t a c c o r d e d th e t e s t i m o ni a l e v i d e n c e . Armb ru s t e r v . H o ro w i t z , 7 4 4 A. 2 d 2 8 5 , 2 8 6 ( P a . S u

p e r. 1 9 9 9 ) . " A tr

u e w e i g h t o fth e e v i d e n c e c h a ll e n g e c o n c e d e s th at s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e e x i s t s t o s u s t a i n th e v e r d i c t b ut qu e s t i o n s w h i c h e v i d e n c e i s t o b e b e l i e v e d . " C o mm o nw e a l th v . C h arl t o n , 9 0 2 A . 2 d 5 5 4 , 5 6 1 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 6 ) (

q u o ti ng 

### C o mm o nw e a lth v . G a l i n d e s , 7 8 6 A. 2 d 1 0 0 4 , 1 0 1 3 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 1 ) . I t i s e x cl u s i v e l y w i th i n th e d i s c r e t i o n o f th e fa c t fi n d e r t o d e t e rm i n e th e w e i g h t o fth e e v i d e n c e . C o mm o nw e a lth v . S m a ll , 5 5 9 P a . 4 2 3 , 4 3 5 , 7 4 1 A . 2 d 6 6 6 , 6 7 2 - 7 3 (1 9 9 9 ) . T h e fa c t fi n d e r i s fr e e t o b e l i e v e a ll , p art , o r n o n e o fth e e v i d e n c e an d d e t e rm i n e th e c r e d i b i l i ty o f w i tn e s s e s . I d . 

### A v e r d i c t w i ll o n l y b e r e v e r s e d w h e r e i t i s s o c o n trar y t o th e e v i d e n c e s o a s t o s h o c k o n e ' s s e n s e o f

j u s t i c e . C o mm o nw e a l th v . M o r g an , 9 1 3 A . 2 d 9 0 6 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 6 ) . I n d e t e rm i n i n g w h e th e r th e v e r d i c t i s a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o fth e e v i d e n c e , th e tr i a l j u d g e i s t o

2' • • , : � d e t e rm i n e th at " n o tw i th s t an d i n g a ll th e fa c t s , c e rt a i n fa c t s ar e s o cl e ar l y o f g r e at e r w e i g h t th at t o

i g n o r e th e m or t o g i v e th e m e qu a l w e i g h t w i th a ll th e fa c t s i s t o d e ny j u s t i c e . " C o mm o nw e a l th v . W i dm e r , 5 6 0 P a . 3 0 8 , 3 2 0 , 7 4 4 A. 2 d 7 4 5 , 7 5 2 ( 2 0 0 0 ) ( c i t at i o n o m i tt e d ) . " A n e w tr i a l i s n o t w arr ant e d b e c au s e o f a ' m e r e c o n fl i c t i n th e t e s t i m o ny ' an d mu s t h av e a s tro n g e r fo un d at i o n th an a r e a s s e s s m e n t o f c r e d i b i l i ty o f w i tn e s s e s . " C o mm o nw e a l th v . G o nz a l e z , 1 0 9 A. 3 d 7 1 1 , 72 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 5 ( c i t at i o n o m i tt e d ) . T h e r e a s o n s fo r th e C o urt ' s v e r d i c t ar e s e t fo rth i n th e r e c o r d . (N . T . 4 / 2 7 /2 0 1 7 , 1 3 0 - 3 4 ) . W e h e r e b y a d o p t th e r e a s o n s fo r th e C o urt ' s v e r d i c t a s s e t fo rth i n th e r e c o r d fo r th e p urp o s e s o fth e a

p p e a l. W e o ff

e r th e fo ll o w i n g c i t at i o n s t o th e t e s t i m o ny o fr e c o r d w e fo un d t o b e c r e d i b le i n furth e r s u p p o rt o f th e v e r d i c t. I n d e t e rm i n i n g th at an a c c i d e n t o c c urr e d , th e C o urt r e l i e d u p o n th e c r e d i b l e t e s t i m o ny o f J e ann e L e tt e rm an , T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n an d O ffi c e r R y an D o h e rty . J e ann e L e tt e rm an t e s t i fi e d th at o n S e p t e mb e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 , s h e w a s s t o p p e d at a 4 - w ay s t o p o n F i fth S tr e e t i n O x fo r d , C h e s t e r C o unty , w h e n th e t an v e h i cl e i n fr o n t o f h e r w e nt b a c kw ar d an d s m a s h e d i n t o h e r c ar i n s t e a d o f g o i n g fo rw ar d . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 7 ) . M s . L e tt e rm an t e s t i fi e d th at th e v e h i cl e s p e d aw ay a ft e r h i tt i n g h e r an d s h e tr i e d t o fo ll o w i t , b ut i t w a s tr av e ll i n g v e r y fa s t. (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 1 0 ) . Wh e n s h e r e a l i z e d s h e c o u l d n o t c at c h th e v e h i cl e , s h e m a d e a l e ft o nt o B ro a d S tr e e t an d th e s tr i k i n g v e h i cl e c o nt i nu e d o n F i fth S tr e e t. (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 1 1 ) . M s . L e tt e rm an th e n c a ll e d 9 - 1 - 1 . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 /2 0 1 7 , 1 1 ) . M s . L e tt e rm an furth e r t e s t i fi e d th at s h e trav e ll e d a p p ro x i m at e l y 4 b l o c k s p r i o r t o c a ll i n g th e p o l i c e . (N .T . 4 / 2 7 /2 0 1 7 , 1 5 ) .

T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n , D e fe n d an t' s s o n , t e s t i fi e d th at h e w a s th e fr o nt s e at p a s s e n g e r an d D e f e n d an t w a s dr i v i n g th e v e hi cl e w h e n i t w a s i nv o l v e d i n an a c c i d e n t at th e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f F i fth S tr e e t an d M ark e t S tr e e t. (N . T. 4 /2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 1 9 - 2 0 ) . T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n t e s t i fi e d th at w h i l e

3w a i t i n g at th e i n t e r s e c t i o n , D e f e n d an t dro p p e d h i s c i g ar e tt e an d att e mp t e d t o p i c k i t u p . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 2 5 ) . T h e v e h i cl e r o ll e d b a c k w ar d s , h i tt i n g th e v e h i cl e b e h i n d i t , an d th e n D e fe n d ant j u s t dro v e aw ay . (N . T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 2 2 ) .

O ffi c e r R

y an D o h e rty o f th e O x fo r d B o ro u g h P o l i c e D e p artm e n t t e s t i fi e d th at h e w a s d i s p at c h e d t o a h i t an d run a c c i d e nt th at o c c urr e d at F i fth an d M ark e t S tr e e t s i n O x fo r d o n S e p t e mb e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 at a p p ro x i m at e l y 1 : 1 5 o r 1: 1 8 p . m . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 4 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty w a s a dv i s e d th at a g o l d o r t an s e d an w i th an o ut - o f - s t at e l i c e n s e p l at e w as i nv o l v e d i n an a c c i d e nt. (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 4 ) . O f fi c e r D o h e rty l o c at e d th e v e h i cl e m at c hi n g th at d e s c r i p t i o n i n th e ar e a o fth e G e tty M art an d c o n d u c t e d a v e h i cl e s t o p i n th e G e tty M art p ark i n g l o t. (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 5 ) . O f

fi c e r D o h e rty o b s e rv e d th e d am a g e t o th e r e ar o fth e t an v e h i cl e a s w e ll a s th e d am a g e t o th e fr o nt o f M s . L e tt e rm an ' s v e hi cl e an d c o n cl u d e d th at th e d am a g e t o th e v e h i cl e s w a s c o n s i s t e n t w i th a c o ll i s i o n b e tw e e n tw o v e h i cl e s . (N . T. , 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 5 1 ) .

T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n an d O ffi c e r D o h e rty p ro v i d e d c r e d i b l e t e s t i m o ny th at D e fe n d ant w a s dr i v i n g th e v e h i cl e . T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n t e s t i fi e d th at a ft e r th e v e h i cl e ro ll e d b a c k w ar d an d s tru c k th e v e h i cl e b e hi n d i t , D e fe n d an t c o n t i nu e d t o dr i v e u p F i fth S tr e e t an d t urn e d o n H o d g s o n S tr e e t n e ar th e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f F i fth S tr e e t , e x i t e d th e v e hi c l e n e ar a p ark i n g l o t an d b e g an w a l k i n g t o h i s c o u s i n ' s h o m e . (N . T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 2 2 - 2 4 , 4 1 ) . A ft e r D e f e n d an t e x i t e d th e v e h i cl e , T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n ' s fri e n d , A r i e n e W a s h i n gt o n , b e g an t o dr i v e th e v e hi cl e b a c k t o T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n ' s h o m e at 1 1 9 N o rth F i fth S tr e e t , O x fo r d b e c au s e T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n d o e s n o t kn o w h o w t o dr i v e an d h a s n e v e r h a d a dr i v e r ' s l i c e n s e . (N . T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 2 4 , 3 7 , 4 0 ) . P r i o r t o r e a c h i n g th e h o m e , th e v e h i cl e w a s s t o p p e d b y p o l i c e . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 2 5 ) . T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n t e s t i fi e d th at w h e n th e o f fi c e r b e g an t o qu e s t i o n h i m ab o ut a h i t an d run a c c i d e nt , h e t o l d th e o f

fi c e r th at D e fe n d an t w a s dr i v i n g an d w h e n h e tr i e d t o r e tri e v e th e c i g ar e tt

4h e dro p p e d o n th e fl o o r , th e v e h i cl e ro ll e d b a c kw ar d an d h i t th e o th e r v e h i cl e . (N . T. 4 /2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 2 5 ) . T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n furth e r t e s t i fi e d th at h e c a ll e d D e f e n d an t w h e n h e g o t t o th e G e tty M art . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 /2 0 1 7 , 2 6 ) . T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n t e s t i fi e d th at D e f e n d an t arr i v e d at th e G e tty M art a b o ut 2 0 m i nut e s l at e r. (N . T. 4 /2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 2 7 ) .

O ffi c e r D o h e rty t e s t i fi e d th at a ft e r h e c o n d u c t e d th e v e h i cl e s t o p , h e o v e r h e ar d T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n c a ll D e fe n d ant. (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 5 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty w a s fam i l i ar w i th D e f e n d ant fr o m p r e v i o u s m e e t i n g s an d r e c o g n i z e d h i s v o i c e o n th e p h o n e . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 7 ) . O f fi c e r D o h e rty o v e r

h e ar d T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n a s k D e fe n d ant t o c o m e t o th e G e tty M art b e c au s e hi s fr i e n d , A r i e n e W a s h i n g t o n , w a s a c c u s e d o f b e i n g i nv o l v e d i n a h i t - an - run a c c i d e n t . T e r e n c e t o l d h i s fath e r th at h e w ant e d h i m t o c o m e t o th e s c e n e b e c au s e h i s fath e r " w a s th e o n e w h o w a s dr i v i n g an d h i s fr i e n d w a s b e i n g b l am e d fo r i t. " (N . T. 4 / 2 7 /2 0 1 7 , 4 8 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty h e ar d D e fe n d an t t e ll T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n h e w o u l d n o t a dm i t t o dr i v i n g th e v e h i cl e b e c au s e h e h a d b e e dr i nk i n g . (N . T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 8 , 6 4 ) .

O ffi c e r D o h e rty furth e r t e s t i fi e d th at D e fe n d an t e v e n tu a ll y arr i v e d at th e G e tty M art . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 9 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty w at c h e d D e f e n d an t a p p ro a c h th e G e tty M art , o n fo o t. (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 9 , 6 7 ) . O f fi c e r D o h e rty b e g an qu e s t i o n i n g D e f e n d an t a b o ut th e i n c i d e n t an d D e f e n d ant i n i t i a ll y t o l d h i m th e r e w a s n o a c c i d e nt , n o b o dy w a s dr i v i n g th at v e hi cl e an d h e w a s n o t i n th at v e h i cl e . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 5 0 ) . A ft e r O ffi c e r D o h e rty s h o w e d D e fe n d an t th e d am a g e t o th e r e ar o fth e v e h i cl e h i s s o n w a s i n an d h o w i t m at c h e d th e d am a g e t o th e fr o nt e n d o f M s . L e tt e rm an ' s v e h i cl e , D e fe n d ant t o l d O ffi c e r D o h e rty h e w a s dri v i n g , b ut th e r e w a s n o a c c i d e nt. (N . T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 5 1 , 6 4 - 6 5 ) . D e fe n d ant c o nt i nu e d t o ar g u e w i th O f fi c e r D o h e rty a s t o w h e th e r o r n o t h e w a s dr i v i n g th e v e h i cl e an d w h e th e r o r n o t h e w a s i nv o l v e d i n an a c c i d e nt. (N . T. 4 / 2 7 /2 0 1 7 , 5 1 , 6 5 ) .

5 

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# . . � -O ffi c e r D o h e rty ' s o b s e rv at i o n s o f D e f e n d ant p ro v i d e d furth e r r e l i ab l e t e s t i m o ny th at D e f e n d ant w a s un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f a lc o h o l. O ffi c e r D o h e rty t e s t i fi e d th at h e o v e r h e ar d th e c o nv e r s at i o n b e tw e e n T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n an d D e f e n d ant an d c o u l d t e ll th at D e fe n d an t w a s i nt o x i c at e d . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 9 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty kn e w D e fe n d an t fr o m p r e v i o u s i n t e ra c t i o n s an d h a s s e e n h i m s o b e r an d drunk . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 9 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty d e s c ri b e d D e fe n d an t a s qu i e t an d v e r

y p e r s o n ab l e , un l e s s h e i s i n t o x i c at e d . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 9 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty t e s t i fi e d th at w h e n D e fe n d ant i s i n t o x i c at e d , h e b e c o m e s v e r y l o u d an d v e r

b a ll y a g g r e s s i v e . (N .T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 9 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty t e s t i fi e d th at h e o v e r h e ar d D e f

e n d an t t e ll h i s s o n h e h a d b e e n dri nk i n g . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 4 8 ; 6 4 ) .

O ffi c e r D o h e rty furth e r t e s t i fi e d th at w h e n D e fe n d an t w a l k e d u p t o th e G e tty M a h e w a s un s t e a dy o n h i s f e e t , w o b b l i n g b a c k an d fo rth an d h av i n g tr o ub l e s t an d i n g . (N . T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 5 0 ) . O f

fi c e r D o h e rty t e s t i fi e d th at a l th o u g h D e fe n d an t w a l k s w i th a li mp , h e i s u s u a ll y s t e a dy o n h i s f

e e t . (N . T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 5 0 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty d e t e c t e d an o d o r o f a lc o h o l c o m i n g fr o m D e fe n d an t an d n o t e d th at D e fe n d an t ' s s p e e c h w as s l urr e d . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 5 1 ) .

T h e e v i d e n c e o f r e c o r d d e s c r i b i n g th e t i m e l i n e o f e v e n t s s h o w s th at D e f e n d an t w a s dr i v i n g w h i l e un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f a lc o h o l. D e f e n d an t t e s t i fi e d th at o n S e p t e mb e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 , s o m e w h e r e b e tw e e n 1 2 : 1 5 an d 1 2 : 2 0 , h i s s o n T e r e n c e an d h i s s o n ' s fr i e n d dro v e h i m fr o m h i s h o m e o n 1 1 9 N . 5 th S tr e e t t o h i s c o u s i n C l i n t o n H e n d e r s o n ' s h o m e o n 1 1 0 S . 

## s " S tr e e t. (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 9 6 ) . D e f

e n d an t t e s t i fi e d th at C l i n t o n H e n d e r s o n ' s h o u s e i s j u s t d o w n 

## s " S tr e e t , an d y o u h av e t o p a s s th e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f 

## s " an d M ark e t S tr e e t s b e fo r e r e a c hi n g C l i n t o n H e n d e r s o n ' s h o m e . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 1 0 9 ) . D e fe n d an t t e s t i fi e d th at C l i n t o n H e n d e r s o n ' s h o m e i s r i g h t b e fo r e th e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f 

## s " S tr e e t an d H o d g s o n S tr e e t. (N . T. 4 / 2 7 /2 0 1 7 , 1 0 9 ) . D e fe n d an t t e s t i fi e d th a h i s s o n ' s fr i e n d w a s dr i v i n g an d h e w a s i n th e b a c k s e at o f th e v e h i cl e . (N . T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 9 7 , 9 9 ) .

6 

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### D e fe n d ant t e s t i fi e d th at h i s c o u s i n ' s h o m e i s a p p ro x i m at e l y 2 m i nut e s fr o m h i s h o m e b y c ar an d h e w a s dro p p e d o ff at th e c o rn e r o f 5 1 h 

### S tr e e t an d H o d g s o n S tr e e t. (N . T . 4 / 2 7 /2 0 1 7 , 9 8 - 9 9 ) .

D e fe n d ant t e s t i fi e d th at h e w a s dr i nk i n g b e e r at h i s c o u s i n ' s h o u s e an d c o n s um e d tw o 2 4 - o un c e b e e r s an d a d o u b l e s h o t o f g i n . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 9 9 , 1 0 3 ) . D e f e n d ant t e s t i fi e d th at h e w a s at h i s c o u s i n ' s h o u s e fo r 3 0 t o 4 5 m i nut e s p r i o r t o r e c e i v i n g th e c a ll fr o m h i s s o n . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 1 0 1 , 1 1 1 ) . D e fe n d an t t e s t i fi e d th at a p p ro x i m at e l y 1 0 m i nut e s a ft e r h e g o t th e c a ll fr o m h i s s o n , R o b e rt H e n d e r s o n dro v e h i m t o th e G e tty M art . (N . T. 4 /2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 1 0 4 ) .

D e f e n d ant ' s h o m e i s l o c at e d o n l y a f e w b l o c k s fr o m C l i nt o n H e n d e r s o n ' s h o m e an d i s o n l y a 2 m i nut e dr i v e b y c ar. D e f e n d ant w o u l d p a s s th e i nt e r s e c t i o n o f 

## s " S tr e e t an d M ark e t S tr e e t o n h i s w ay t o C l i nt o n H e n d e r s o n ' s h o m e . M s . L e tt e rm an t e s t i fi e d th at s h e c a ll e d 9 - 1 - 1 a p p ro x i m at e l y 5 m i nut e s a ft e r th e a c c i d e nt t o o k p l a c e , an d s h e s aw th e v e h i cl e t um o n H o d g s o n R o a d , w h e r e D e fe n d ant t e s t i fi e d h e w a l k e d t o h i s c o u s i n ' s h o m e . E x h i b i t D - 1 s h o w s th at th e p o l i c e d i s p at c h r e c e i v e d a c a ll o f a h i t - an d - run a c c i d e n t at 1 : 1 8 p . m . A t 1 : 2 2 p . m . , O f fi c e r D o h e rty w a s at th e G e tty M art i nv e s t i g at i n g th e a ll e g e d i n c i d e nt. ( E xh i b i t D - 1 ) . O ffi c e r D o h e rty t e s t i fi e d th at D e fe n d ant arr i v e d at th e G e tty M art a p p ro x i m at e l y 2 0 m i nut e s a ft e r T e r e n c e H e n d e r s o n c a ll e d h i m .

D e f e n d an t att e mp t e d t o e x c u s e h i s i n t o x i c at i o n b y cl a i m i n g t o h av e c o n s um e d 4 8 o un c e s o f b e e r an d a d o ub l e s h o t o f g i n i n th e s p an o f 2 0 t o 3 0 m i nut e s w h i l e h e w a s at h i s c o u s i n C l i n t o n H e n d e r s o n ' s h o m e . W e fo un d th i s e xp l an at i o n t o b e i n c r e d i b l e , e s p e c i a ll y i n l i g h t o f th e t e s t i m o ny o f C l i n t o n an d R o b e rt H e n d e r s o n . (N . T. 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 1 3 2 ) . R o b e rt H e n d e r s o n t e s t i fi e d th at h e d i d n o t s e e D e f e n d an t dr i nk i n g at a ll ; C l i n t o n H e n d e r s o n t e s t i fi e d h e s aw D e f e n d ant dr i nk tw o b e e r s d ur i n g th e t i m e h e w a s at h i s h o m e . (N . T . 4 / 2 7 / 2 0 1 7 , 7 3 , 8 4 , 9 0 ) T h i s i s i n c o n s i s t e nt w i th th e am o un t o f a l c o h o l D e f e n d ant t e s t i fi e d h e drank i n th e 2 0 m i nut e

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### bp e r i o d b e tw e e n e x i t i n g th e v e h i cl e an d g o i n g t o th e G e tty M art . T h e e v i d e n c e o f r e c o r d i s a cl e ar i n d i c at i o n th at D e fe n d an t kn e w h e w a s i n t o x i c at e d . H i s s u g g e s t i o n th at h i s i n t o x i c at i o n w a s d u e t o h e av y dr i nk i n g i n th e 2 0 t o 3 0 m i nut e s fo ll o w i n g th e a c c i d e nt w a s unp e r s u a s i v e .

Up o n c o n s i d e rat i o n o fth e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d , an d o ur e v a l u at i o n o fth e c r e d i b i l i ty o f th e e v i d e n c e , w e fo un d D e fe n d an t g u i l ty o f a ll c h ar g e s , b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t.

F o r th e fo r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , w e r e s p e c t fu ll y s ub m i t th at D e fe n d an t' s a ll e g at i o n s ar e w i th o ut m e r i t an d th e a p p e a l s h o u l d b e d e ni e d .

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